Queer survivors share their story
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Why This Project Matters
When we talk about violence against LGBTQ+ people, we often think of strangers or public hate crimes. But some of the deepest wounds come from the people closest to us. Partners, family members and friends. This project gives voice to LGBTQ+ individuals who have experienced interpersonal violence. That includes emotional, physical, or sexual abuse by someone they once trusted.
It is a quiet epidemic. Many of us carry that trauma in silence. We are afraid of judgment, stigma, or simply not being believed. These experiences do not just disappear. They often show up in future relationships and shape the way we move through the world.
My name is Hessel|Haden. I am a survivor of interpersonal violence. Two years ago, I started this project with one purpose. To give a voice to those who have felt voiceless for far too long. I wanted to create representation for those of us who feel alone. To show that this is not an isolated issue, but a global one.
Since then, I have been meeting and photographing queer people from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries. Their stories are deeply personal, but also strangely familiar.
Now, I’m preparing to travel to the final continents this project hasn’t yet reached, so there will be representation from all over the world.
What the Numbers Show
• 69.3% of bisexual women and 56.3% of lesbian women have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.
• 47.7% of gay men and 46.1% of bisexual men report experiencing the same.
• Around 37.5% of transgender individuals report experiencing physical or sexual violence from a partner.
• According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, that number rises to 54% reporting some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
Many also face family rejection and systemic discrimination, which can further limit access to support.
These rates are significantly higher than those reported by heterosexual, cisgender people. Yet many LGBTQ+ survivors do not report their experiences due to fear of judgment, being outed, or mistrust of law enforcement. That means these numbers are likely just the surface.
(Statistics based on U.S. studies conducted between 2010 and 2020. Full references below.)
What We Can Create Together
Healing starts with awareness. It begins by opening up the painful conversations and showing people they are not alone in this.
Through this global project, I hope to create a visual space where LGBTQ+ people can see themselves reflected. A space where survivors feel seen, heard, and validated. Because this is not just happening in one place. It’s happening everywhere. And we need to start healing the community from within.
Your donation will help bring this project to life. It will support travel, documentation, safe interview environments, local interpretation, and the creation of a final exhibition that gives these stories the visibility they deserve.
Let’s finish this project together ❤️
Contribution Perks
To thank you for your support, I’m offering a few personal tokens of appreciation.
If you’d like to receive one, please email:
lgbtq (dot) ipv (dot) project (at) [ g m a i l ] (dot) com
Include your donation receipt and let me know which perk you'd like.
This is the only way to claim your gift.
€35 – Postcard from the Road
A handwritten postcard sent from one of the places I’ll be visiting for the interviews. A small message of gratitude, mailed with care from somewhere along this journey.
€100 – Pre-release Print with Personal Quote
Receive a physical print of one of the portraits before the project is released publicly. Each print will come with a hand-written quote that connects to the story behind it.
€300 – Name Mention in Final Project
Your name will be included in the final exhibition or project credits as someone who helped make this work possible. A lasting thank you for your support.
Currency note:
All amounts are listed in euros (€). If you’re donating from another country, feel free to contribute the equivalent in your local currency.
(For reference: €35 is around $38 USD, €100 is around $110 USD, and €300 is about $330 USD. Please check the current exchange rate for accuracy.)
Sources
Walters, M. L., Chen, J., & Breiding, M. J. (2013). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 findings on victimization by sexual orientation. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Smith, S. G., Zhang, X., Basile, K. C., Merrick, M. T., Wang, J., Kresnow, M., & Chen, J. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2016–2017 report on victimization by sexual identity. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Becasen, J. S., Denard, C. L., Mullins, M. M., Higa, D. H., & Sipe, T. A. (2020). Estimating the prevalence of intimate partner violence among transgender persons: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 110(4), 385–393.
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). (2017). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected hate and intimate partner violence in 2017. New York: Anti-Violence Project.
James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality.
Organizer
Hessel Haden de Groot
Organizer